Metro Express Limited

DELIVERING THE NATION’S FIRST EVER LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM

METRO EXPRESS LIMITED

Mobilising Mauritius

How Metro Express Limited is delivering the country’s first ever light rail system, a gamechanging new network which is already opening up opportunities for Mauritian people Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Lewis Bush

2 | Africa Outlook issue 81

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T

here is no doubt that Mauritius represents a tremendous economic success story since independence in 1968.

Now an upper-middle income country, the island state is home to 1.3 million people who continue to drive strong GDP growth, 2018 recording a 3.8 percent increase with a similar level of expansion expected to be confirmed for 2019.

Indeed, Mauritius is well on its way to becoming a high-income nation as

Dr Das Mootanah, CEO

it transitions to a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy, although such rapid progression has brought some less desirable side effects.

Once of the most visible is the proliferation of cars on the island’s road network. Today there are around 550,000, almost one for every two citizens on what is a relatively small landmass, and the figure is rising by around five percent a year.

And there are economic costs too, with traffic congestion expected to Africa Outlook issue 81 | 3

METRO EXPRESS LIMITED

Franki Africa Franki and the Fast Track In what is referred to as one of the most challenging railway line projects in Mauritius, Frankipile Mauritius International, a Keller company, has successfully completed the foundations for various structures along the 26-kilometre route.

The Mauritius light rail transit system, including 19 stations, is now nearing completion. The new line runs from Curepipe to Immigration Square in Port Louis and passes through densely urbanised areas of Vacoas, Rose Hill and Quatre Bornes making access to the various sites and piling positions very awkward and difficult.

The location of the Metro Express running parallel to inner city roads added to the technical and logistical challenges.

cost the Mauritian economy around road traffic accidents, about 150 on MUR 10 billion ($260 million) annually average annually, so building alternaby 2030. tive modes of transport is a matter of The solution? Encourage more public safety. citizens to make use of alternative, sus“The development will also have an tainable forms of transport. aggregate effect on the economy. By This is where Metro Express comes building infrastructure and transport in. Under construction since 2017, it is hubs through the five major towns, the country’s first ever light it will act as a catalyst for rail transit (LRT) system and incremental growth and METRO marks the first investment in generate opportunities for EXPRESS entrepreneurs as well as train travel since the old lines were closed in the 1960s. job seekers.

BY Spanning 26 kilometres, once “Mass transit systems NUMBERS finished it will connect major also have inherent social urban centres from Curepipe benefits. People will to Port Louis via 19 new stahave a chance to get out KILOMETRES tions, six of which serving as of their cars and have a OF RAIL TRACK multimodal transit hubs. conversation while they are “This absolutely is a gametravelling either individuchanger for Mauritius,” says ally, in groups or with their TRAINS Dr Das Mootanah, CEO of families. In fact, we have Metro Express Limited (MEL), already observed this on the organisation spearheadour trains, especially on STATIONS ing the project. weekends, where young “There are numerous families often go out in the PASSENGERS challenges facing Mauritius evening for leisure from CARRIED which we are tackling. As well Rose Hill to Port Louis.”

TO DATE as congestion, we have also As Dr Mootanah indiseen increasing numbers of cates, Metro Express is

26 18

19

850,000

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Metro Express Ltd appointed leading construction company Larsen and Toubro for the design and construction of the Metro Express.

FMI were originally commissioned

by L&T to conduct the geotechnical investigation along the 26-kilometre route. This investigation consisted of 257 boreholes to assess the underlying geotechnical conditions.

The results from the geotechnical investigation revealed that a piled foundation solution would be most suited for the various structures associated with the new railway line.

Following the geotechnical investigation and pile testing phase, FMI was appointed as the specialist piling contractor for the project.

In total, FMI installed 450 piles spread over nine different sites, the piles were one metre in diameter and founded at an average depth of 13 metres below ground level.

Despite all the challenges, the FMI team were able to successfully complete the project within time and on budget.

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METRO EXPRESS LIMITED

Passenger safety and customer service are two major themes of Metro Express Limited’s working practices

already operational along phase one from Rose Hill to Port Louis, transporting more than 850,000 passengers to date. This covers around 13 kilometres with 13 of the 18 trains already delivered, the rest of the line anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021.

Another socioeconomic benefit is the fact that the construction and operation of the LRT network itself continues to generate direct employment opportunities.

Metro Express Limited employs hundreds of people in areas such as project management, engineering, HR, finance, marketing, procurement, station operations, ticket inspection, train maintenance and more. Meanwhile, major contractor Larsen & Toubro (L&T) employs more than 2,000 people across multiple building sites.

A COLLABORATIVE JOURNEY Dr Mootanah is the first to admit, 6 | Africa Outlook issue 81

“...PASSENGER SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE TWO MAJOR THEMES IN WHATEVER WE DO AT METRO EXPRESS LIMITED. THEREFORE WE HAVE SEVERAL LEVELS OF ASSURANCE ALREADY EMBEDDED IN OUR SYSTEMS AND WAY OF WORKING”

however, that the project has brought with it some enormous challenges.

“This is among the most complex infrastructure development ever carried out in Mauritius,” he explains. “We had several challenging aspects and we quickly implemented exceptional and collaborative measures to achieve our objectives.

“For instance, passenger safety and customer service are two major themes in whatever we do at Metro Express Limited. Therefore we have several levels of assurance already embedded in our systems and way of working.”

The first involves thorough safety audits conducted by Larsen & Toubro as part of its contract, covering tests on the rail track and surrounding infrastructure, with train vehicle supplier CAF also conducting fitness tests on all units delivered to Mauritius.

Additionally, the Quality, Health, Safety, Environment and Risk Patrol is

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SERVICES

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METRO EXPRESS LIMITED

LEADERSHIP FOCUS Dr Das Mootanah Dr Das Mootanah has been the Chief Executive Officer of Metro Express Limited since July 2018. He carries over 28 years’ international crosssector leadership experience in London, Sydney and Mauritius in major infrastructure programmes.

“I have been involved on high profile megaprojects including the 2012 London Olympics, High Speed Rail in London and Sydney Railway,” Dr Mootanah says. “Since leaving Mauritius in 1994 I had been coming back every year or two to visit and always wanted to return to use my expertise to benefit my home country.

“When I got the opportunity at the Road Development Authority (RDA) in Mauritius, it gave me exactly that chance. It was only when I returned to the country in 2016 that I really noticed there hasn’t been much change in our towns and cities.

“Then came the Metro Express project – the first LRT system in Mauritius.

It was the perfect opportunity to use my experience in railways to benefit the country and help in the urban regeneration and transformation of these cities.”

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an exercise that brings together representatives of several bodies (including MEL, L&T and supervisory partners) on site each week to supervise the work and control environmental, health and safety aspects.

Safety was also a major consideration during the design phase of Metro Express, while global rail operator SMRT has been providing training to MEL staff and is present during testing exercises to ensure safety policies are properly implemented.

Further, authorities such as fire and rescue and the police, as well as ministerial authorities, have been collaborating closely throughout the project’s development.

Dr Mootanah also explains how collaboration with the public has been critical to the smooth delivery of the project, citing how L&T has set up information desks to dispense information and receive feedback from the public.

“Communication and engagement with the public was also a very interesting challenge to take on given the complexity of the scheme and the multitude of different partners involved,” he says. “We are constantly on the go and continue to engage proactively with the public.

“Nevertheless, it has been and still is a very rich experience. It is a learning exercise, especially for our communication team. But as you know, communication is about understanding your audience. In addition, it is now a 24-seven process with growing number of Mauritians on social networks.

“As it is a national project, people are passionate and share different opinions. This has allowed us to broaden our experience and competence.”

Likewise, communication and cooperation with suppliers has been equally fundamental to the success of Metro Express to date, Dr Mootanah praising the contributions of all companies involved so far, from major contractors such as L&T to other partners including Labolink, Frankpile International and Sika.

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Despite working with a multitude of partners, Metro Express Limited ensures engagement with the public Looking ahead, such relationships will continue to be vital in importance as the project nears completion, and with the Mauritian government considering plans to extend the network east to west across the entire island, an exciting period lies ahead.

So much so that Dr Mootanah and Metro Express are encouraging other African nations to follow suit, the CEO concluding by reiterating the potential rail has to connect people and deliver prosperity.

“We have had ministers from Seychelles and delegations from Reunion Island and Madagascar visit the project to see what they can learn for their future transport infrastructure projects.

“Collaborating with African countries will be important for us. We should embrace our African identity and, in the future once this project is delivered, we will look to step up cooperation and collaboration with other African countries.

“I was recently in Madagascar which has such huge potential but is underdeveloped. It gives you an idea of how much can be done in Africa.”

METRO EXPRESS LIMITED Tel: +230 460 0460 registry@metroexpressltd.org www. mauritiusmetroexpress.mu

Africa Outlook issue 81 | 9

METRO EXPRESS LIMITED 3rd Floor, SICOM Tower Ebene 72201 Tel: +230 460 0460 registry@metroexpressltd.org www. mauritiusmetroexpress.mu/mon-voyage PRODUCED BY AFRICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE